Connecticut western news., 1887-04-27
BISMARCK AND THE POPE.
LIVELY DEBATE ON THE EC-
 CLESIASTICAL BILL.
The Prince Declaring He Would
 Quit if the Bill Was Rejected.

The debate on the Ecclesiastical bill was be- gun in the lower House of the Prussian Diet Dr. Windthorst, the Clerical leader, declared that the Centre Party would submit to the Pope's wishes and would vote for the bill as it passed the upper house, and without offering any of the amendments which the Centre had intended to propose as necessary to make the bill entirely acceptable to the Catholics of Ger many. The Centre Party, Dr. Windthorst added, would renew the fight against the Gov ernment if at any time Catholic interests were affected.
 Prince Bismarck declared that if the bill was rejected he would abandon his office as Presi- dent of the Ministry of State for Prussia and devote his entire time to the service of the en- pire. GAS perhaps" he said, Ca hard external and internal struggle against the revolutionary party is imminent, I desire first to settle all unnecessary internal disputes"
 Herr Richter condemned the bill because, he said, the provisions regarding the right of con- tirmation and protest by the State in ecclesias- tical appointments would promote servility. He protested against the action of the Pope in interfering in the elections for membership in the Reichstag
 Prince Bismarck declared that Herr Richter was more Catholic than the Pope, and added: ''lt must be admitted that in the eyes of Ger man Catholics the papacy is no foreign institu- tion. The result of the elections would have been the same with or without the opposition of the Centre members. The result of the
 
 the expression of evaporation at the attitude of the opposition under Herr Richter. The point at issue was not to combat 8 political group, but to secure the preservation of the empire from injury, and that desired to form a majority for myself was quite natural All the national parties should endeavor to meet the curia so far as 1t l. compatible with State rights. This is feasible by adopting the pres ent bill as it has passed the Oberhaus. Modi- fications will increase the Governments ar- GDon toSt m al of kampf acted in accordance with my political convictions. The bill comedies nothing that will endanger the States authority" Prince Bismarck then appealed to the members of the national parties not to reject the bill. The moment was favorable for the conclusion of peace in the religious war that had so long been waged in Germany. He declared that 8 considerable portion of his influence in Eu- rope rested onsthe confidence manifested in his political honesty and trustworthiness by the representatives of the German people. Prof Virchow opposed the bill as a measure tending to strengthen the Pope's hierarchical power.
 Prince Bismarck, in reply to this, observed ! that Prof. Nirchow opposed him as matter of principle on all great questions. "I never," | said the Prince, described the May laws as & | final institution but always as laws of combat, | as is now the case with the anti-Socialist law. Ihave solely striven to satisfy the lovers of | peace among the Catholics l never aimed to | keep portion of my fellow citizens under permanent pressure.
 Herr. Von Gerlach expressed approval of the bill coupled with wish that greater inde- pendenco might be granted the evangelic church.
 In refuting Herr Richter's statements as to the Pope's meddling in the present elections. Prince Bismarck Iemarked that Herr Richter apparently did not even read the papers which he himself wrote or inspired, or he would know that in French political circles Russia's | attitude was very carefully watched, and that with mot of the Nationalist papers of Russia the question whether France would be friend or an enemy ill event of the adoption of any particular policy played very impor- tant part. Herr Richter, continued the Chan ce,lor, had referred to England with great emphasis, which was all very well if his refer ences were correct, but before emphasizing them he ought to have understood the politi- cal situation and recent events there. Prince Bismarck further said that there was little doubt that England had strong desire to ob- tain the Pope's support, first, against the Fen iaus, and, later, against the Parnellites, and, indeed, no secret had been made of tho fact